Deutocerebrum

The deutocerebrum traditionally refers to the second segmentlike division of the supraoesophageal ganglion (that part of the brain lying anterior to the gut). There is much confusion in the literature about what is and what is not deutocerebral. The segmental origin of brain neuropils can only be resolved by studying cell lineage and origin using segment-specific genetic markers.

For the present, the following regions are ascribed to the deutocerebrum:

The mechanosensory neuropils of the deutocerebrum: these areas receive inputs from mechanosensory axons from the scapus and pedicellus of the antenna and some mechanosensory axons from mechanoreceptors on the head surface. Deutocerebral mechanosensory regions correspond to the "vertical lobes" described by Sanchez from the honeybee (Sanchez, D.S (1937) Sur le centre antenno-moteur ou antennaire postérieur de l'abeille. Trab. Lab. Invest. Biol. Univ. Madr 31:245-269). This neuropil is also refered to here as the antennal mechanosensory neuropil, lying immediately behind and lateral to the antennal lobes.

The antennal lobes are often refered to exclusively as the deutocerebrum, particularly by those working on insect olfaction. The antennal lobes are glomerular neuropils receiving mainly, but not exclusively, olfactory receptor terminals.

The ventrolateral deutocerebrum is contiguous with the antennal mechanosensory neuropil. It receives terminals from the lobula, particularly those of columnar neurons. Such terminals are arranged as "optic glomeruli," similar to olfactory glomeruli but far more difficult to make out in Bodian material. Fills into columnar neurons in larger flies demonstrate this organization well.

The dorsal deutocerebrum consists of neuropil, also contiguous with antennal mechanosensory neuropil, that receives terminals of neurons originating in the lobula plate. Both dorsal and ventro-lateral deutocerebra contain the dendrites of many descending neurons.

Ventral lobes, sometimes called ventral bodies or accessory lobes, are discrete neuropils that reside ventral and lateral to the central body complex. They receive endings from the optic lobes, and have substantial connections with the ellipsoid body and fan-shaped body.

Flybrain    Atlas    Major Brain Centers    Deutocerebrum

All contents are copyright © 1995-2000 Flybrain or their original publication (as noted).
Copyright and use policy

AC00005